A Thank You, An Apology and A Giveaway!

Hey folks. I have been M.I.A. lately haven't I? I'd love to give you some big mission impossible-esque explanation but I fear you'd find me out. I am not a spy, I am not Tom Cruise, nor do I hang from ceilings from harnesses. At least not in the last couple of days anyways.

So first a super dee duper thank you to my readers who voted for my red berry sorbet for foodbuzz's top 9. I was stunned and overwhelmed. You folks rock. I am thrilled and truly humbled by the last week's events. I know I joke around a lot, and get a bit loopy with my posts. But this one is from the heart. I cannot thank you all enough for reading and commenting, for voting and for making me part of your lives. It warms my heart and makes this so worthwhile. I adore each and every one of you.

I also have a huge apology to hand out to a couple of ladies. Nothing doom and gloom, I have not wronged anyone or done anything bad. I just sort of, kind of, completely lost my mind and dropped the ball on something. Last month I held a giveaway on each blog. I gave away a cookbook on this one and a healthy living book on the other blog. I wrapped them up and planned to take them to the post. Somewhere along the line, and I am NOT blaming anyone here, (hubs) someone moved them from the spot in the car where I put things I need to send, drop off and return. I have a funny feeling it was during a hectic week, again not naming names, but think we may have been rushing around and someone threw it in a basket in the back of my suv I never look in. Luckily I was searching for a cap (bad hair day) the other day and came across the packages stuffed in the basket. So they never did get sent. I will not place blame, (hubs) as that would be wrong. I am sure no one (hubs) meant to do it. I am sure someone (hubs) was just in a hurry and didn't mean to haphazardly toss them in the back. I'm sure if someone (hubs) could apologize they would. It's not like anyone (hubs) meant to do it on purpose, although I would say someone (hubs) needs to be more careful. So I apologize to Juanita and Amy. May I just say thank goodness they didn't go out as Juanita's just says Juanita with an address, no last name. Lol! So maybe this was for the best and someone (hubs) did us all a favour. But don't tell someone (hubs) that. Otherwise I can't  milk this for all it's worth. And I plan to. Big time!!!

So dear Juanita, there's an email on it's way to you. I have it all addressed, just need that last name to finish it off. I am sending your cookbook in the morning. You can look for this in the post, minus the note which I thought was cute and also hides addresses for security reasons. So keep your eye out for this:

And to Miss Amy Valentino, I will post on the other blog too but for now I just have time to do this one. So sorry my dear, you can look for this in the post. Hope you like it:

Yes the wrapping is adorable. I send stuff to my sis often as she does to me. So over the years we've gotten good at  making them fun and bright. Not your usual plain wrap.

Okay so now for the giveaway. I promise to send it on time this time. I blame summer (along with hubs). This would have never happened during the school year. I am spastic Martha during the school year, Martha on speed, Martha over caffeinated, Martha uberfied and superfied. Then summer hits and I become this whole other person. Lazy, no energy, can't get off the couch. Don't want to do a thing, house falls apart, laundry piles up, kids go hungry. I have no idea how or why this happens but it does. So I blame summer completely.

Sorry got off on a tangent as usual. So yes I am doing a giveaway and I know you are dying to know what it is I am giving away. I mean don't you just hate it when people go on and on and don't actually explain what they're suppose to be explaining. I mean I just hate it when people do that. They should tell you right away and not drag it out and leave you hanging. You spend your time wondering when it will end, how long it can go on for, you keep checking your watch, scrolling down to see if it's going to end soon. I mean just get to it already is what I think when people do that. Who has time to read a bunch of mumbo jumbo and non sensical  nonsense. I sure don't. I mean we're all busy people who have things to do, not a ton of free time. We need to get in and get out quickly. There's nothing worse than someone who can go on and on and on. Oh wait, what was I saying. Something about a giveaway or some mumbo jumbo like that.

Okay so here's the inspiration for the giveaway. Omgsuckie photos. I am trying everything I can to make mine better. It's a challenge to say the least. I swear if I get one more rejection from foodgawker saying composition I am going to scream. So I needed to take action, take a step in the right direction, take matters into my own hands. So I ordered this:

And I did not just order one, I ordered one for me, and one to giveaway to one lucky reader. So bonus, I get to learn and I get to make one lucky reader happy as well. I hear so many good things about this book. Everyone just raves about it. So I just had to do it. I hope not all of you have it already. It is a bit pricier here in Canada. Our stores are just so much more expensive than the states. So silly. But so worth it for this beauty. So here's what you need to do to win.

*Open to residents of States and Canada only* - Contest runs until midnight September 2nd

1 entry- Follow my blog and leave a comment you are following. No links are necessary nor will the comment get published if you leave a link or ad in your comment. Just say hi or hey, or hey hi or hi hey. Whatever. If you already follow my blog and want to enter just leave me a comment telling me that.

bonus entry 1- Follow me on twitter and let me know in a separate comment. (makes the number easier to input) If you already follow me on twitter and want to enter just leave me a comment saying you do.

bonus entry 2- Follow me on stumble upon and leave a comment you did. If you already do just leave a separate comment saying you do. My stumble is http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/CravingsLunatic/

bonus entry 3- Poke around  my blog a bit, tell me your fave post and quote me something from it (not the first sentence) or tell me why you liked it. Post that here so I can track the numbers for the giveaway though.

bonus entry 4- Follow my other blog I have been neglecting horribly lately. I aim to get my butt in gear on that one once the kids are back in school. So feel free to go follow it and come here to say you did. If you already do and want the book just let me know. You can find me here- http://losingitlikealunatic.blogspot.com/

bonus entry 5- post this giveaway on twitter. Let me know you did.

*edit* bonus entry 6 and 7- I am on blogfrog now. If you are and add me it's an extra, if you join my community I'll toss another on your way.

bonus entry 8- I am on Facebook as of about a minute ago. Like me for another. Lol

You can do one, or all or any combo of them. Whatever floats your boat and makes you happy. That's my goal in life, to  make you happy! And feed your bellies. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.

I have been busy cooking up a storm. I just have not had time to post. I shall soon with some stories about horsey pedicures and cats eating birdies. It's never dull here. Lots of recipes coming up. So you can look forward to this:

Spicy sorta pesto, sorta salsa!

Ice Cream Torte

Garlic Bread

Corn on the Cob

Rib Eyes

Jealous much???

Yup, I've been busy. Just too busy to post. I also did a great dinner but the pics are horrible. I hesitate to post  it. I had a huge smudge on the camera and did not know it. So every pic is fuzzy and distorted. So disappointing as I made rainbow trout. So seriously bummed, need to be more careful with my camera.

Anyhow hope you are all well. There should be tons of new posts over the next few days. Just really behind on getting them up here. I am out all day tomorrow with mini-me. We're off on another adventure. So not sure when I'll get to posting this stuff but probably not until tomorrow night.

Toodles and smoochies. xx